Poem Analysis - The Inventory

An Ironic Accounting

Robert Burns' "The Inventory" presents a wry and humorous accounting of the speaker's possessions, delivered in broad Scots dialect. The poem adopts a mock-serious tone, ostensibly complying with a request for a list of goods and chattels. However, the speaker's digressions, complaints, and overall irreverence transform the inventory into a commentary on taxation, social status, and the speaker's own roguish character. The poem's mood fluctuates between grudging compliance and outright defiance, laced with self-deprecating humor.

Burns' Social Milieu

Robert Burns lived during a time of significant social and economic change in Scotland. He was a farmer, deeply aware of the burdens placed on the rural population by taxes and social hierarchies. This poem reflects the tension between the gentry (represented by the recipient of the inventory) and the working class, a theme often explored in Burns' work. The language of the poem, rich in Scots dialect, serves to emphasize the speaker's identity and distance him from the more Anglicized, educated elite.

Themes of Resistance and Practicality

One central theme is resistance to authority. The speaker begrudgingly complies with the request for the inventory, but his tone is far from respectful. He mocks the system through sarcasm, exaggeration, and a refusal to take the process seriously. He challenges the authority by stating he will walk, not ride, to avoid paying saddle taxes in the future. A related theme is practicality and survival. The speaker's inventory focuses on items essential for farming and his livelihood: horses, carts, and farmhands. He itemizes the defects of his possessions without shame, reflecting the realities of a life lived close to the land and the need to make do with what he has. A final and more lighthearted theme present in this inventory, is the speaker's attitude towards women and family. While claiming he has no wife to avoid taxes, he freely admits to having a 'dear-bought Bess'. The poem uses humor to navigate sensitive subject matter.

Vivid Imagery of Rural Life

The poem is filled with vivid images that bring the speaker's rural life to life. The descriptions of the horses, such as "A d-n'd red wud Kilburnie blastie," create a strong sense of their individual personalities. The broken wheelbarrow and the makeshift poker evoke a world of hard work and resourcefulness. The image of wee Davock, "scarcely langer than your leg," reciting theological doctrines, is both humorous and poignant, highlighting the importance of religious instruction even in humble circumstances. The “dear-bought Bess” creates the image of a loved child, in contrast to the transactional language he uses to describe her situation. These images ground the poem in the specific details of the speaker's experience.

Final Insights

"The Inventory" is more than just a list of possessions; it is a satirical commentary on social and economic inequalities. Burns uses humor and irony to critique the burden of taxation on the working class and to celebrate the resilience and resourcefulness of ordinary people. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its relatable portrayal of a character who is both flawed and sympathetic, someone who chafes under authority but remains grounded in the realities of his daily life. The poem can be read as a subtle act of defiance, a way of subverting the power of the ruling class through wit and self-deprecation.